Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law, nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against them.

NEHEMIAH 9:34KJV
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Nehemiah 9:34 (KJV)

What does Nehemiah 9:34 mean?

Nehemiah 9:34 says that none of the leaders—kings, princes, priests, or ancestors—obeyed God's law or listened to His commands and warnings. The verse is a confession that those in authority repeatedly failed to follow what God had clearly told them to do.

This verse is spoken by the Levites during a public prayer of confession after the people of Israel returned from exile. They are honestly admitting the failures of their nation’s leaders throughout history, highlighting that disobedience was not limited to just ordinary people but included everyone in positions of responsibility. The verse emphasizes the seriousness of ignoring God’s instructions and the collective responsibility for the nation’s troubles.

The Hebrew behind Nehemiah 9:34

  • "Law" (תּוֹרָה, torah): This word means instruction or teaching, not just legal rules. The Levites are admitting that leaders ignored the full guidance God gave, not just specific laws.
  • "Hearkened" (שָׁמַע, shama): This means to listen with the intent to obey. The verse stresses that the leaders did not just fail to hear, but failed to act on what they heard.
  • "Testimonies" (תְּעוּדָה, teudah): This refers to the ways God made His will clear, often through warnings or reminders. The verse points out that God gave them plenty of notice, but they still did not respond.
  • "Testify" (עוּד, ud): This word means to give evidence or bear witness. The verse highlights that God actively warned and reminded them, making their disobedience even more serious.

Why Nehemiah 9:34 matters

  • Nehemiah 9:34 clears up any idea that only some people were at fault; it shows that failure to obey God’s law was widespread among all levels of leadership.
  • The verse connects to the larger prayer in Nehemiah 9, where the people are recounting their history honestly, not hiding their ancestors’ mistakes, which sets the stage for genuine repentance.
  • By naming kings, princes, priests, and fathers, the verse emphasizes that spiritual failure is not just a personal issue but can affect entire communities and generations when leaders go astray.

Where else these words appear

“testify” Hebrew H5749 · used in 40 verses

  • Genesis 43:3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.
  • 2 Kings 17:13 Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets.
  • Psalms 146:9 The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

“hearkened” Hebrew H7181 · used in 45 verses

  • 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
  • Proverbs 2:2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
  • Isaiah 49:1 Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.

“testimonies” Hebrew H5715 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
  • Exodus 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.